ALBION supporters have to pay 41% more than the Championship average for their season tickets, and their pies are the most expensive in the top four divisions of English football.

But the club and its fans argued the prices represent good value for their money, saying their pies, seats and stadium were the best in the league.

A day out at the American Express Community Stadium costs more than almost anywhere else in the division, with a ticket, a programme, a cup of tea and a pie setting fans back £34.70 while at Reading the package would cost just £18.50.

However merchandise is more affordable. At £45 an adult shirt is moderately priced - all but seven clubs in the league sell their shirts for between £39.99 and £50.

Liz Costa, vice chairwoman of the Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters’ Club, defended the price of entry to the ground. She said: “It’s the best stadium in the country, it’s won national and international awards.

“No other club in the country can offer you padded seats in every seat in the ground.”

“You’ve got legroom in every seat, we’re one of the few stadiums with free wifi, and the pies are award winning.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s damn good value for money.”

The standard seating at the Amex is the same as the designated VIP seating was at the London Olympic stadium.

Ms Costa pointed out that Albion supporters also enjoy free match-day travel on public transport from as far afield as Haywards Heath in the north, Worthing in the west and Eastbourne in the east, all coming directly to the Falmer station which is directly adjacent to the ground.

She added: “At other Championship grounds sometimes it’s sometimes a twenty minute walk to the ground.”

The annual BBC Sport Price of Football study has revealed that only non-league Kidderminster Harriers’ pies were more expensive than the £4.10 Piglet’s Pantry meat treats on sale at the Amex.

They may be twice the price of the pies available at Rochdale, but the handmade pastries from local firm Piglet’s Pantry are a big hit with Seagulls supporters.

The company, which started in a tiny shop in Shoreham before beating 100 rivals for the Albion contract, sells around 10,000 pies every game, more than any other stadium in the country.

The freshly made pies even offer seasonal variations, with December’s speciality an entire Christmas meal in a pastry case.

The BBC survey analysed the price of more than 700 tickets, with over 70% having stayed the same price or gone down for the 2015/16 season.

Albion’s cheapest season ticket cost is unchanged from last year at £465, second only in the division to Hull.

It is over three times the price of lowest-priced Championship club Reading, where a season ticket can be had for as little as £135, although this price is only available for 18-24 year olds.

Paul Barber, Albion's chief executive, said, "Matchdays at the Amex provide an unrivalled experience for both home and away fans, and the fact we have had one of the highest average crowds in the Championship since we moved to the stadium, suggests our ticket pricing is affordable and good value for money.